People, Land & Water (Special Edition) - 100th Anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake

This 36-page special edition of People, Land & Water commemorates the
1906 Earthquake, documents the birth and growth of earthquake science in the
United States and demonstrates how this science is used to help safeguard communities.
(The following stories and information on this page may require Adobe
Acrobat Reader.)

A
Moment of Magnitude for America and for Science (PDF -
581 k)
In December 1904, a University of California at Berkeley geology professor
named Andrew Lawson wrote the following in the university's newspaper: "History
and records show that earthquakes in this locality have never been of
a violent nature, as so far as I can judge from the nature of recent
disturbances and from accounts of past occurrences there is not occasion
for alarm at present." Less than two years later, he might have
considered a retraction.

USGS
Responds to the 1906 Earthquake (PDF - 319 k)
In 1906, the only permanent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) office in California
was the Pacific Region Topographic Mapping Office in Sacramento, some 70
miles up the Sacramento River from San Francisco Bay. The office had been
established just three years earlier and was the only USGS office ever
created for the sole function of topographic mapping. On April 18, 1906,
many of the USGS topographers were in Sacramento preparing for summer fieldwork.
It was that day that the great earthquake struck.

History
of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (PDF - 223 k)
Scientific study of earthquakes in the United States arose from three seismic
events that occurred in the eastern, central,
and western parts of the country beginning in the early 1800s.

What it's Like
to be an Earthquake Scientist - Talking with USGS Geophysicist Ross
Stein (PDF - 157 k)
In a field where the work is critical to saving lives, earthquake scientists
often operate at a dizzying pace, collaborating with partners around the world
as they try to solve the many mysteries of the Earth’s processes. And just
when they least expect it, they are thrown into the public spotlight, expected
to respond to the fear and confusion that inevitably follow natural disasters
with answers they may or may not have. It is tough, challenging work; but for
most, the rewards of scientific discovery and knowing that they are giving something
back to society make it all worthwhile.

USGS Earthquake
Scientists—A Nationwide Notion
of Pride (PDF - 604 k)
USGS scientists from across the country have been part of many incredible
and memorable earthquake experiences. With that in mind, several of
them were asked, "What
has been your proudest, most exciting or most noteworthy moment in USGS earthquake
science?" The answers are as different as the scientists themselves.

The
Advanced National Seismic System: A Sure Bet for a Shaky Nation (PDF
- 209 k)
If you were to learn that in 1886, a major U.S. city was ravaged by a magnitude-7.3
earthquake in which 60 people were killed and millions of dollars of damage
done, where would you guess it had happened— Los Angeles? San Francisco?
Anchorage? Try Charleston, S.C.

Did
You Feel It? Citizen Science Goes Seismic (PDF - 190 k)
Have you ever been through an earthquake? Did you know that reporting your experience
during an earthquake can help save lives and property during future quakes?
As a result of work by USGS with the cooperation of various regional seismic
networks, the world can log in on the Internet and tell USGS scientists what
they felt during an earthquake.

Chain
Reaction: Earthquakes that Trigger Other Natural Hazards (PDF
- 150 k)
A fire destroys much of a major city. The side of a mountain collapses
and then explodes. A train of waves sweeps away coastal villages over
thousands of miles. All of these events are disasters that have started
with or been triggered by an earthquake.

Measuring
Magnitude — What Do the Numbers Mean? (PDF - 139 k)
Often two or more different magnitudes are reported for the same earthquake.
Sometimes, years after an earthquake occurs, the magnitude is adjusted.
Although this can cause some confusion in news reports, for the public
and among scientists, there are good reasons for these adjustments.

Top
10 Things Northern Californians Should Do to Prepare for the Next Big
Earthquake (PDF - 116 k)
The people, businesses and government agencies in Northern California will
risk suffering loss of life and structural and financial damage when major
earthquakes strike. Scientists, engineers and emergency-management experts
gathering for the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference call on the
region’s citizens, businesses and governments to take the following
actions to increase safety, reduce losses and ensure a speedier

Forecast
of Aftershock Hazard Maps Show Daily Shaking Probability (PDF
- 135 k)
In the course of a day, the probability for moderate-to-strong earthquake
shaking in California is between 1-in-10,000 and 1-in-100,000. That isn't
very high when you consider that the average American has a one-in-2,500
chance of being in a car accident in the same period of time. However,
there are times when the likelihood of experiencing earthquake shaking
goes up considerably. The USGS 24-hour forecast of aftershock hazard maps
show Californians when and where the risk is elevated.